Introduction: The commonly known meerkat is also known as the Suricata suricatta or suricrate, a small furry animal part of the mongoose family. Its name derived from Afrikaan from Middle Dutch meercatte, meaning ‘sea cat’ even though meerkats are not associated to cats nor do they live near the sea. There is only one species of meerkats; however there are 3 other subspecies which vary only slightly between the different types. These are:
Suricata suricatta siricata – found in South Africa
Suricata suricatta majoriae – found in Nimibia
Suricata suricatta iona – Found in Angola
Meerkats are small socially dependant omnivores that weigh up to 7.3 Kilograms. Their social means of life means that meerkats live in groups known as ‘clans’, ‘mobs’ or ‘gangs’; much like the baboons who share a similar social structure. Each clan is made up of 20 to 50 or so meerkats living together. This report will explore the evolution of meerkats and their possible descendant of the future. It will cover their adaptations to their environment which has enabled them to survive as a species
Habitat: Meerkats are inhabited in various parts of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa), preferring to live where there are sandy soils to dig their burrows. They can be found in desserts, mountain
where meerkats are found
grasslands, near shrubs and tropical grasslands. Like all members of the mongoose family, the meerkat suricate suricatta disappear to the burrows at the end of each day to escape the cold dessert air at night and to escape from predators.
Meerkat groups will make use of several burrows which they will move from one to another. Each burrow will be a system comprising of tunnels and ‘rooms’ which will remain cool under despite being under the scorching African sun. Meerkats are found to share their burrows with ground squirrels and the yellow mongoose.
Living in the dessert means that the meerkats are offered with plentiful choices of food. Meerkat diet includes insects such as scorpions, beetles, spiders, centipedes, crickets and worms. Meerkats also consume eggs, fruits and roots, small mammals and small reptiles.
The Kalahari Dessert houses a diverse range of biodiversity including hyenas, lions, giraffes, warthogs and numerous species of birds and reptiles. Their main predators are hawks and jackals which share the same habitat as meerkats.
Because of the remoteness of meerkat habitat from large population of humans and major cities, the meerkats are not facing possible extinction. In fact, they are even classified as “least concern”. This is only possible because of the number of protected areas and game reserves of the Kalahari Dessert and the meerkat’s ability to adapt to dessert environment to ensure their survival.
Meerkat habitat
Adaptations
Meerkat with dark markings around its eye
Structural 1: Dark eyes Living in dessert environments means that the meerkat will spend many hours out in the sun. Meerkats have darker markings around their eyes to deflect sunlight. Without the sun constantly affecting their eyesight, meerkats will be able to spot prey and predators easily from afar. With better eyesight, the chances of being attacked by predators is not as highly.
Structural 2: Ears Meerkats have small ears which they can close up when digging to keep out the dust and dirt. This can be helpful when they are digging burrows or scouting for insects buried beneath the surface of the earth. Meerkats also have an acute sense of hearing which can pick up “alarm calls” from other meerkats when there is danger.
Behaviour 1: Sentry duty As highly social creatures, meerkats have different jobs including performing sentry duty. While other meerkats forage and play, a few meerkats will be on lookout for predators such as jackals, hyenas and eagles. Hawks and eagles feed on meerkats and can easily snatch them from the ground. With meerkats looking out for danger, other meerkats can be alerted when there is danger and escape to safety. When a threat is detected, the meerkat(s) will produce a sharp and high-pitched bark to alert the others to retreat back to their burrows. This sort of social behaviour helps meerkats protect themselves as a group.
Behaviour 2: Babysitting In a meerkat group, all adult meerkats take care of other young meerkats within their group regardless of whether the pups belong to them or not, except the alpha female who is the dominant female of the group. Other adult meerkats are responsible for protecting the young and teaching them survival skills. When there is danger, the carers take the meerkat pups back underground or lie on top of them. This ensures a higher chance of survival for the pups so that their species can carry on.
Physiological: Immune to venom Parts of the meerkats main diet are scorpions so meerkats have developed immunity against their venom as well as a hunting technique. When feeding on scorpions, a meerkat will first move close to the scorpion. Just as the scorpion is about to sting, the meerkat will grab the scorpion with its paws and remove the its stinger and then continue to consume the rest of the insect. It has been found that meerkats are even immune to some types of snakes. This adaptation can enables meerkats to eat more kinds of food, making it easier for them to hunt prey.
Meerkat. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved June 13, 2010, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/meerkat
Introduction:
The commonly known meerkat is also known as the Suricata suricatta or suricrate, a small furry animal part of the mongoose family. Its name derived from Afrikaan from Middle Dutch meercatte, meaning ‘sea cat’ even though meerkats are not associated to cats nor do they live near the sea. There is only one species of meerkats; however there are 3 other subspecies which vary only slightly between the different types. These are:
Suricata suricatta siricata – found in South Africa
Suricata suricatta majoriae – found in Nimibia
Suricata suricatta iona – Found in Angola
Meerkats are small socially dependant omnivores that weigh up to 7.3 Kilograms. Their social means of life means that meerkats live in groups known as ‘clans’, ‘mobs’ or ‘gangs’; much like the baboons who share a similar social structure. Each clan is made up of 20 to 50 or so meerkats living together. This report will explore the evolution of meerkats and their possible descendant of the future. It will cover their adaptations to their environment which has enabled them to survive as a species
Scientific Classification
Extinct animal
Future animal
Current Meerkat
Habitat:
Meerkats are inhabited in various parts of the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa), preferring to live where there are sandy soils to dig their burrows. They can be found in desserts, mountain
Meerkat groups will make use of several burrows which they will move from one to another. Each burrow will be a system comprising of tunnels and ‘rooms’ which will remain cool under despite being under the scorching African sun. Meerkats are found to share their burrows with ground squirrels and the yellow mongoose.
Living in the dessert means that the meerkats are offered with plentiful choices of food. Meerkat diet includes insects such as scorpions, beetles, spiders, centipedes, crickets and worms. Meerkats also consume eggs, fruits and roots, small mammals and small reptiles.
The Kalahari Dessert houses a diverse range of biodiversity including hyenas, lions, giraffes, warthogs and numerous species of birds and reptiles. Their main predators are hawks and jackals which share the same habitat as meerkats.
Because of the remoteness of meerkat habitat from large population of humans and major cities, the meerkats are not facing possible extinction. In fact, they are even classified as “least concern”. This is only possible because of the number of protected areas and game reserves of the Kalahari Dessert and the meerkat’s ability to adapt to dessert environment to ensure their survival.
Adaptations
Structural 1: Dark eyes
Living in dessert environments means that the meerkat will spend many hours out in the sun. Meerkats have darker markings around their eyes to deflect sunlight. Without the sun constantly affecting their eyesight, meerkats will be able to spot prey and predators easily from afar. With better eyesight, the chances of being attacked by predators is not as highly.
Structural 2: Ears
Meerkats have small ears which they can close up when digging to keep out the dust and dirt. This can be helpful when they are digging burrows or scouting for insects buried beneath the surface of the earth. Meerkats also have an acute sense of hearing which can pick up “alarm calls” from other meerkats when there is danger.
Behaviour 1: Sentry duty
As highly social creatures, meerkats have different jobs including performing sentry duty. While other meerkats forage and play, a few meerkats will be on lookout for predators such as jackals, hyenas and eagles. Hawks and eagles feed on meerkats and can easily snatch them from the ground. With meerkats looking out for danger, other meerkats can be alerted when there is danger and escape to safety. When a threat is detected, the meerkat(s) will produce a sharp and high-pitched bark to alert the others to retreat back to their burrows. This sort of social behaviour helps meerkats protect themselves as a group.
Behaviour 2: Babysitting
In a meerkat group, all adult meerkats take care of other young meerkats within their group regardless of whether the pups belong to them or not, except the alpha female who is the dominant female of the group. Other adult meerkats are responsible for protecting the young and teaching them survival skills. When there is danger, the carers take the meerkat pups back underground or lie on top of them. This ensures a higher chance of survival for the pups so that their species can carry on.
Physiological: Immune to venom
Parts of the meerkats main diet are scorpions so meerkats have developed immunity against their venom as well as a hunting technique. When feeding on scorpions, a meerkat will first move close to the scorpion. Just as the scorpion is about to sting, the meerkat will grab the scorpion with its paws and remove the its stinger and then continue to consume the rest of the insect. It has been found that meerkats are even immune to some types of snakes. This adaptation can enables meerkats to eat more kinds of food, making it easier for them to hunt prey.
Bibliography